Xbox Acquisition |OT3| 100% Organic Growth

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@BRiT

I think Microsoft should look at locking up the support studios they’ve been using or at least working towards rights of first refusal. Those are on the smaller side of things. While unglamorous they are critical.

Absolutely agree, especially as Tencent/Embracer continue to stake their claim on those smaller studios.

[Daniel]

@BRiT

I think Microsoft should look at locking up the support studios they’ve been using or at least working towards rights of first refusal. Those are on the smaller side of things. While unglamorous they are critical.

IOI and Avalanche should be snapped up if they do a good job with their next projects, honestly I think IOI should be snapped up regardless.

[beastmode10]

@Knottian

… Not commenting on the rest, aside from reminding people that even those who are aware of what’s happening couldn’t pinpoint timing as I always remind people, however I wanted to correct something here. Microsoft no longer “assimilates” staff of acquisitions; they practice ‘limited-integration’ with their new studios. Yes, there are the corporate benefits and the pathways of mobility between other Microsoft studios/departments, but the rest that would occur during acquisitions (title adjustments, staff quotas, etc.) no longer occur at Microsoft. MS found, with the purchase and relationship with Mojang, that limiting interference with company culture, practices, directives, etc. resulted in a healthier position for both parties.

Watching Star Trek - Picard for the last few days, and “assimilate” means only one thing there.

[No-1HoloLens-Fan]

@Friday

Why do you want ubisoft under xbox ? IMO their games are bland , every game feels the same and are repetitive after 20 hours in . Last ubisoft game I loved is AC unity ( origins to a certain degree ) .

Personal opinion

You don’t like there games

I like there games

[biglo25]

@KirthGersen

New acquisition in 3:45 hours?

Welcome to the Forum Kirth i seen you a few times on OtherERA

[Daniel]

@Friday

Why do you want ubisoft under xbox ? IMO their games are bland , every game feels the same and are repetitive after 20 hours in . Last ubisoft game I loved is AC unity ( origins to a certain degree ) .

It’s not always about games, the amount of teams MS would get is massive.

[beastmode10]

@Knottian

Absolutely agree, especially as Tencent/Embracer continue to stake their claim on those smaller studios.

I think there is room at either end of the spectrum, and in between too -

• an acquisition that has a heavy return (Minecraft looks like a very shrewd move now), and can generate a lot of revenue year on year, and
• the experimental kind - that allows for investment into teams with a different angle, that are talented but cash-strapped and hungry to show of their skills - DoubleFine, Obsidian, NinjaTheory, inXile and Compulsion come to mind here, and
• the obvious low-hanging fruit - like you mentioned - the ones who are trusted and will be an automatic fit due to their proximity with xbox - the Playground equivalents

I am actually excited for the last two categories.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@beastmode10

I think there is room at either end of the spectrum, and in between too -

• an acquisition that has a heavy return (Minecraft looks like a very shrewd move now), and can generate a lot of revenue year on year, and
• the experimental kind - that allows for investment into teams with a different angle, that are talented but cash-strapped and hungry to show of their skills - DoubleFine, Obsidian, NinjaTheory, inXile and Compulsion come to mind here
• the obvious low-hanging fruit - like you mentioned - the ones who are trusted and will be an automatic fit due to their proximity with xbox - the Playground equivalents

I am actually excited for the last two categories.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@beastmode10

Watching Star Trek - Picard for the last few days, and “assimilate” means only one thing there.

@Daniel

IOI and Avalanche should be snapped up if they do a good job with their next projects, honestly I think IOI should be snapped up regardless.

Couldn’t agree more; both are incredible studios that have built incredible engines, amazing experiences, and have largely been successful despite some rough patches.

[KirthGersen]

@biglo25

Welcome to the Forum Kirth i seen you a few times on OtherERA

Thanks! It’s good to be here after lurking for quite some time hehe.

[beastmode10]

@Knottian

LOL

[NierlyCrazy]

@beastmode10

I think there is room at either end of the spectrum, and in between too -

• an acquisition that has a heavy return (Minecraft looks like a very shrewd move now), and can generate a lot of revenue year on year, and
• the experimental kind - that allows for investment into teams with a different angle, that are talented but cash-strapped and hungry to show of their skills - DoubleFine, Obsidian, NinjaTheory, inXile and Compulsion come to mind here, and
• the obvious low-hanging fruit - like you mentioned - the ones who are trusted and will be an automatic fit due to their proximity with xbox - the Playground equivalents

I am actually excited for the last two categories.

I’d be curious to see how many times Xbox has talked to certain teams about potential acquisitions or deals that would lead to a potential deal.

Someone like Hello Games and Turtle Rock come to mind due to previous rumors.

[Daniel]

I was gonna post this in the community tab but I think it fits here too. Apparently Minecraft alone made 1.1B in 2020… not bad for a 2.5B purchase.

Damn I seriously think this Minecraft move probably catapulted Xbox up the priority list and gave Xbox a chance. I think the success of the Minecraft purchase paved the way for Bethesda.

Timur222

[MJ_INC]

@Daniel

IOI and Avalanche should be snapped up if they do a good job with their next projects, honestly I think IOI should be snapped up regardless.

For me it’s IOI and Asobo. Both talented studios who I feel could become massive with the right funding. They may not be looking to be bought but throw the right sum and guarantees on freedom along with massive budgets and it could shift their views.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@Daniel

I was gonna post this in the community tab but I think it fits here too. Apparently Minecraft alone made 1.1B in 2020… not bad for a 2.5B purchase.

Damn I seriously think this Minecraft move probably catapulted Xbox up the priority list and gave Xbox a chance. I think the success of the Minecraft purchase paved the way for Bethesda.

Yet, you still have some people who pretend that Minecraft isn’t part of Xbox or that they do nothing for Xbox…

[Flash]

@NierlyCrazy

I’d be curious to see how many times Xbox has talked to certain teams about potential acquisitions or deals that would lead to a potential deal.

They talked to many studios, whether it was cooperation or acquisition

And if I remember Brad Sams spoke up and said that Microsoft was in advanced talks with Gearbox Software , But the talks reached a dead end , Part of me says Microsoft doesn’t want Randy Pitchford after the acquisition and I think this is one of the reasons why no agreement was reached

[NierlyCrazy]

@Knottian

Yet, you still have some people who pretend that Minecraft isn’t part of Xbox or that they do nothing for Xbox…

Which is crazy. People get way too dismissive over some weird things when it comes to gaming, but then make exceptions for others.

Gotta love it.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@MJ_INC

For me it’s IOI and Asobo. Both talented studios who I feel could become massive with the right funding. They may not be looking to be bought but throw the right sum and guarantees on freedom along with massive budgets and it could shift their views.

I absolutely agree that Asobo should be at the top of their individual studios list for acquisitions, but keep in mind that they have a ten-year agreement with them to support Flight Sim and I would be very surprised if there wasn’t a “right of first refusal” clause in that agreement.

[NierlyCrazy]

@Flash

They talked to many studios, whether it was cooperation or acquisition

And if I remember Brad Sams spoke up and said that Microsoft was in advanced talks with Gearbox Software , But the talks reached a dead end , Part of me says Microsoft doesn’t want to Randy Pitchford after the acquisition and I think this is one of the reasons why no agreement was reached

Oh yes, totally. I’m more so referring to repeat talks and with who. Like we know Microsoft went to Zenimax at least twice.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@NierlyCrazy

Which is crazy. People get way too dismissive over some weird things when it comes to gaming, but then make exceptions for others.

Gotta love it.

That’s because too many people online think that gaming is a monolith and that they speak for all of gaming, meanwhile their preferences often turn out to be that of the minority populace in gaming. It’s why I don’t care what Twitter or Resetera have to say about… well anything really.